Reviewing things...

How effective are we???

I have been reviewing and evaluating how effective we are in achieving our goal of creating sustainable life changes in the lives of the girls we work with. We want to make a real and lasting difference to their lives, not just crunch numbers, and for this reason we have created a few assessment tools which we have been using during 2009. These have been very useful in assessing which areas we are doing well in and where there are gaps or things we need to improve. We are striving for excellence!

1. Quality of life assessment: measures the extent to which life-styles changes have been implemented, changes in psychological symptoms, social functioning and behaviours in the lives of each girl (quantitative & qualitative).
2. Client feedback survey: measures the effectiveness of each program in achieving these outcomes (quantitative & qualitative)
3. Statistics (quantitative)

Assessment findings show us the following (averages):


100% of girls stop selling their bodies after joining Daughters
Alcohol consumption ceases by average 87%
75% reduction in experiencing domestic violence
75% improvement in dysfunctional domestic relationships
65% improvement in health and physical wellbeing
87% reduction in risk taking behaviours
50% improvement in spending habits/money management
50% reduction in anxiety symptoms
70% reduction in depression symptoms
70% increase in self-esteem and self-worth
91% reduction in suidical thoughts
56% reduction in somatic symptoms (headaches, stomachaches etc)
62% increase in sense of hope for the future

Which programs are most effective?

80% of girls rate the church program as the one which has helped them experience the most healing, even girls who are still Buddhist
The small businesses, and medical clinic were rated by 80% of girls as being the most important programs
60% of girls rate the life-skills workshops as having given them skills to change their behaviours and life-styles
Other aspects at Daughters that have created life-style changes: new friendships (20% of girls), the staff (20%), parties & games (40%), the creative classes (60%), counselling (80%)

When asked about future plans, many girls said they wanted to stay at Daughters forever (flattering, but not ultimate goal for them!)

Programs requested for the future:
English literacy (50%), Khmer literacy (35%), hair & beauty class (20%)

Statistics show:

Within the last 12 months, 100 girls have joined Daughters.
58 currently work at Daughters
Of those who have left, around 10 have entered job placements that we have referred them to (5%).
Around 10 have found alternative jobs for themselves, or set up their own small businesses (5%).
A large number of girls have returned to live with their families in the province and not returned to the sex industry
4 or 5 girls have returned to the sex industry that we know of (2%)
24 clients (almost half the total number) a week are treated in the medical clinic, plus 9 external referrals
20% of clients each week receive counselling


What these findings mean:

A large number of girls are escaping the sex industry through the work of Daughters (on average 100 per year)

we are being effective in enabling them to change their lives in sustainable ways (evidenced from high % changes in quality of life assessment)

Most girls who exit Daughters do not return to the sex industry (estimate just 2% return that we know of)

Strengths include the skilled business volunteers we now have working with us, to develop the organization in important areas, particularly the businesses and the organizational strategic planning. As a result, professional standards are being achieved in the businesses, and salaries of girls are beginning to be covered, moving us towards goal of self-sustainability

Other strengths include the range of creative activities and workshops, delivered by great long term and short term volunteers, such as the professional art therapist working with us at present.

Things to work on:

We are still understaffed for the growth that has occurred, running on the bare minimum due to lack of funds

The divide between the social support services and business model can create a dilemma for some staff as the interests conflict


These are very encouraging results! A huge thankyou to all the volunteers who have been working with us, and also to everyone who has donated. We are making a huge impact on the lives of many trafficked girls as a result, and this is priceless :)